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Uniting students, parents and teachers to improve Oxnard schools

Because of the passage of Prop 30, as well as the new funding formula which directs supplemental funds to schools with concentrations of low-income and English Learner students, the greater Oxnard area’s five school districts will be receiving large increases in funding. The new funding formula also gives school districts much greater flexibility in local spending. Each district is required to create a Local Control and Accountability Plan before the end of this school year laying out their goals and spending priorities for the next three years. As per-pupil funding will rise each year under the new formula, the stakes are high for this year’s LCAP.

CAUSE convened a coalition including Future Leaders of America, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Ventura County youth group, the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), El Centrito Family Learning Centers, the Oxnard Federation of Teachers and School Employees, and the Oxnard Educators Association. The coalition organized two community forums, one in South Oxnard and one in North Oxnard. Dozens of parents, students, teachers and school officials attended each forum from the Oxnard School District, Oxnard Union High School District, Hueneme Elementary School District, Rio School District, and Ocean View School District.

Parents, students and teachers were given an overview on the new funding and then asked to break into small groups to discuss their ideas for what could be improved in their schools with these resources. All ideas were compiled and at the end of each event participants were asked to vote for their top three priorities. Common themes were reducing class sizes, improving English Learner education, and providing more afterschool and extracurricular resources for students.